Driver fatigue: Electroencephalography and psychological assessment

TLDR

Fatigue poses major safety risks in transportation, and understanding its psychophysiological links can improve management, while the study’s results suggest directions for future research and fatigue countermeasure development. The study examined the psychophysiological changes that occurred during a driver simulator task in 35 randomly selected subjects. The study used a driver simulator task with 35 subjects, recording EEG, heart rate, and blink rate to assess psychophysiological changes. During fatigue, EEG delta and theta activity rose, heart rate fell, blink rate altered, and higher trait anxiety, tension–anxiety, fatigue–inertia, and lower vigor–activity correlated with these neurophysiological changes.

Abstract

Fatigue has major implications for transportation system safety; therefore, investigating the psychophysiological links to fatigue could enhance our understanding and management of fatigue in the transport industry. This study examined the psychophysiological changes that occurred during a driver simulator task in 35 randomly selected subjects. Results showed that significant electroencephalographic changes occur during fatigue. Delta and theta activity were found to increase significantly during fatigue. Heart rate was significantly lower after the driving task. Blink rate also changed during the fatigue task. Increased trait anxiety, tension–anxiety, fatigue–inertia and reduced vigor–activity were shown to be associated with neurophysiological indicators of fatigue such as increased delta and theta activity. The results are discussed in light of directions for future studies and for the development of a fatigue countermeasure device.